Northern rail at wembley

Would people like to see the final played as a curtain raiser to the challenge cup?

PROUD TO BE A MEMBER OF http://www.rugbyleaguecares.org/ and http://www.walesrugb...-wales-for-2013Predictions for the future -Crusaders RL to get a franchise for 2012 onwards -WRONGWidnes Vikings also to get a franchise - RIGHTCrusaders RL to do the double over Widnes and finish five places ahead of them -WRONGWidnes Vikings NOT to dominate rugby league in years to come! STILL TO COME

Would people like to see the final played as a curtain raiser to the challenge cup?

I personally would love that to happen but can't see the RFL ever going for it. Not sure the Championship clubs and supporters would either?! It would be interesting to hear their thoughts but it would be an awesome experience for players.

Just to be clear, the Challenge Cup already sells quite well including to Championship fans, so it is unlikely to have any significant boost in attendances of finances. But it would lose the income from the NRC final as a standalone event. It would also make it into an afterthought as all the attention will be on the Challenge Cup Final while, as much as it is, it does generate some interest on its own.

And won't somebody think of the children! If you play the NRC grand final you deny them the kids the chance to play there in the schools final.

You are not going to get that many turning up before midday to watch the NRC, especially if it means setting off extra early from the north, which is when it would have to be played. The BBC will still want the Challenge Cup at 2.30 so they can show Final Score, and you would need to leave time between matches in case extra time is needed, so with time to take care of the pitch it would probably need to kick off 3 hours before that.

The only benefit to doing it is it would be cheaper for fans who would have gone to both.

It would immediately devalue the Northern Rail Cup, reduce the interest in it amongst casual fans & the media, mean the RFL draw less income, and create issues in terms of ticketing, sales, marketing and promotion for the day at Wembley.